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QUESTION: I have often heard that living a gay lifestyle is like giving into alcoholism. What are your thoughts?

This question requires some definition of terms in order to be answered properly: In my experience, lifestyle is usually associated with something that an individual can choose. This then leads to the next question which underlies our discussion: Can we choose our sexuality? I have never heard anyone use the term "lifestyle" to describe a straight orientation, and I think there's a good reason for that. Our sexuality (that is, our physical and romantic attractions) is innate and not very fluid for the vast majority. It's not something we choose. In fact, many gay people who grow up in non-affirming environments go through a season of actively trying to change their sexuality by trying to live as a straight person. What about alcoholism? Is that a lifestyle? Is it a choice? Since I have never been an alcoholic, I can only speak anecdotally from second hand experience. This much I can say with certainty though: Alcoholism is an addiction. In other words, a person is com...
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QUESTION: How has being gay affected your walk with Jesus?

I appreciate this question because it gets right to the point of life...everything is spiritual and connected with our walk with Christ, including our sexuality. For me, being gay was one of those pivotal issues that brought me closer to Jesus but maybe not in the most orthodox way. At first my sexuality was something I denied in order to be closer to Christ, a "cross to bear" so to speak. It taught me a lot about self-sacrifice and obedience. Lately though, as I've come to embrace my sexuality, it's taught me how to live my faith in authentic and fearless way, to embrace discomfort, and to embrace the goodness of a creator God. It's taught me to move from seeing God as someone easily offended to someone who is pursuing me with deep desire for a relationship with me. And most importantly, it's taught me that we're all on a faith journey of one kind or another, and the best thing we can do is be the body of Christ in encouragement and support of each other ...
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